 | The bailiffs are coming - anyone fishing illegally can expect to be prosecuted whether they are taking fish to eat or putting them back carefully. Last year, the Environment Agency checked |
over 62,000 rod licences and prosecuted more than 1,900 anglers for rod and line offences resulting in fines and costs in excess of £500,000.
The war against illegal fishing is making headlines again in mainstream media after a man was convicted of using long-lines on a canal, and a day ticket fishery was plundered by poachers.
Jen Mun Lin, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court to using an illegal method on the Gloucester Canal, after he was observed by an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer pulling set fishing lines from the water. Lin was made the subject of a two-year conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £235 in costs, along with a £15 victim surcharge.
Stuart Gamble, from the Environment Agency, said: “The use of set lines is a particularly barbaric poaching method that can cause significant suffering to fish and animals.
“The vast majority of fish will either die or will be killed by the poacher. This takes away fish stocks that would otherwise be enjoyed by legitimate anglers.
“We track criminals on an intelligence-led basis using information gathered by ourselves, partner organisations and reports from the public.”
After latest incidents of fish theft, the EA urged anyone to report illegal fishing as quickly as possible by calling their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Jen Mun Lin, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates Court to using an illegal method on the Gloucester Canal, after he was observed by an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer pulling set fishing lines from the water. Lin was made the subject of a two-year conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £235 in costs, along with a £15 victim surcharge.
Stuart Gamble, from the Environment Agency, said: “The use of set lines is a particularly barbaric poaching method that can cause significant suffering to fish and animals.
“The vast majority of fish will either die or will be killed by the poacher. This takes away fish stocks that would otherwise be enjoyed by legitimate anglers.
“We track criminals on an intelligence-led basis using information gathered by ourselves, partner organisations and reports from the public.”
After latest incidents of fish theft, the EA urged anyone to report illegal fishing as quickly as possible by calling their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
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